Wind (Ready-to-read)

Marion Dane Bauer is the author of many books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor book On My Honor and the New York Times bestseller My Mother Is Mine. Her other titles include A Mama for Owen, If You Were Born a Kitten, Grandmother’s Song, and Thank You for Me! She has retired from the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults where she was the first Faculty Chair. She lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and can be reached at MarionDaneBauer.com.

John Wallace’s formal training was not in illustration, but rather theology, which he received at Cambridge University. However, he always loved drawing, and one of his early jobs was as a newspaper cartoonist. In his children’s books illustrations, John is particularly inspired by what he calls “the gooniness” of young school children. John and his family divide their time between Brighton, England, and Long Island, New York.

PreS-Gr 2–Each of these books is part of the "Ready-to-Read" weather series, written at level one. In very simple language, they provide beginning readers with good basics on various aspects of weather. A fact page at the end of each book offers additional interesting information. Rain teaches a simplified version of the water cycle. Wind introduces the idea of the earth spinning and cool and warm air movements. Snow explains how snowflakes form, and Clouds introduces cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds. Paula Parker reads each book in a measured, warm voice. Light music and sound effects are included but do not distract from the content. Page-turn signals are optional. Audio quality is excellent, and youngsters will enjoy perusing John Wallace's bold watercolor-and ink illustrations as they read along. Primary teachers will welcome this series for their reading centers.Teresa Bateman. Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA
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